Noosa Rivers

This brochure describes the flood risk and previous flooding in the Noosa River catchment, last updated in August 2025.

Flood Risk

The Noosa River has a catchment area of approximately 1,900 square kilometres. It has its headwaters in the Cooloola Section of the Great Sandy National Park. It has substantial groundwater input from a number of sources including large sand masses and undulating landscapes. The catchment is connected via groundwater through a continuous wetland system which extends up to Tin Can Bay. The stream network is approximately 1,505 kilometres. The Noosa River flows into Lake Cootharaba and Lake Cooroibah before flowing through Tewantin and out to its mouth at Noosa Heads.

The flat coastal plain areas generally tend to experience longer duration flooding compared to the upper headwaters in the Sunshine Coast hinterland. The Bruce Highway provides an approximate divide between the steeper "flashier" parts of the catchment and the coastal, tide dependent portion of the catchment areas.

Flash flooding is a common occurrence across the Noosa region due to the many small creeks draining the hinterland. Many have catchment areas less than 100 km2 and may cause considerable damage to public and private property during floods. Areas at risk for the Noosa catchment include Kin Kin.

Previous Flooding

Significant flood events of note include 1893, 1968, 1992, 2007, 2011, 2013 and 2022.

Only two Major floods, in February 1992 and August 2007, have occurred since the initial flood warning network was installed in 1987; however historical records show the 1968 flood was of similar magnitude.

At Noosaville and Tewantin, the 1992 flood of 1.81 metres resulted in twelve homes being severely flooded. Many others along the Noosa River were surrounded by water which went under high-set homes and flooded businesses. The damage was not as bad as in 1968 when the Noosa River peaked at 2 metres. At Boreen Point, the caravan and camping grounds, the Lake Cootharaba Sailing Club, five houses and the general store were all flood damaged in the 1992 event. Lake Cootharaba peaked at 3.30 metres and Lake Cooroibah at 2.55 metres. Both these peaks were greater than those in 1968.

In 2022, significant rainfall affected south-eastern Queensland, including the Sunshine Coast region, between late February and early March, resulting from a combination of weather systems. A low-pressure trough developed along Australia’s east coast and deepened on 24 February. This trough drew further moisture into the coast and the moist air collecting within this trough was lifted to form rain and storms. The presence of the blocking high pressure system to its east prevented it from moving away, causing it to stall near the coast and persist until 28 February.

Rainfall was widespread and sustained over almost a week across the Sunshine Coast region from overnight 22-23 February. Observed rainfall totals across the region for the period 22 February - 5 March ranged from 554 mm to 974 mm. The Sunshine Coast region, including the Noosa River experienced what was generally its most significant flooding since January 2013. However, river levels remained below the February 1992 flood levels, which is acknowledged as the largest flood in recent memory. The Noosa Council area had a total of 57 properties damaged, with two residential properties and one commercial property severely damaged. Significant travel disruption resulted from the event, with many schools also closed.

The table below summarisies the flood history of the Noosa River catchment - it contains the flood gauge heights of some of the more historically significant flood peaks.

Flood Event	Coops Corner (m)	Boreen Point (m)	Lake Cooroibah (m)	Tewantin (m)
Jan 1968	-	3.15	-	2.00
Feb 1992	7.25	3.30	2.55	1.81
Feb 1999	5.60	1.95	1.45	1.10
Aug 2007	7.00	2.78	2.28	1.65
Jan 2011	-	1.83	1.68	1.15
Jan 2013	5.52	1.57	1.20	1.18
Feb 2022	6.25	2.63	-	1.62
Feb 2024	2.85	-	-	1.04
Mar/Apr 2025*	6.45	-	1.18	1.49

 

All heights are in metres on flood gauges.

*Preliminary values subject to verification